Moses on Sinai
1In the third month after the sons of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that very day they came into the wilderness of Sinai.
2When they set out from Rephidim, they came to the wilderness of Sinai and camped in the wilderness; and there Israel camped in front of the mountain.
3Moses went up to God, and the L
ORD called to him from the mountain, saying, Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the sons of Israel:
4You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and
how I bore you on eagles wings, and brought you to Myself.
5Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine;
6and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel.
7So Moses came and called the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which the L
ORD had commanded him.
8All the people answered together and said, All that the L
ORD has spoken we will do! And Moses brought back the words of the people to the L
ORD.
9The L
ORD said to Moses, Behold, I will come to you in a thick cloud, so that the people may hear when I speak with you and may also believe in you forever. Then Moses told the words of the people to the L
ORD.
10The L
ORD also said to Moses, Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments;
11and let them be ready for the third day, for on the third day the L
ORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.
12You shall set bounds for the people all around, saying, Beware that you do not go up on the mountain or touch the border of it; whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death.
13No hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot through; whether beast or man, he shall not live. When the rams horn sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain.
14So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and consecrated the people, and they washed their garments.
15He said to the people, Be ready for the third day; do not go near a woman.
16So it came about on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud upon the mountain and a very loud trumpet sound, so that all the people who
were in the camp trembled.
17And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.
The LORD Visits Sinai
18Now Mount Sinai
was all in smoke because the L
ORD descended upon it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently.
19When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him with thunder.
20The L
ORD came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain; and the L
ORD called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.
21Then the L
ORD spoke to Moses, Go down, warn the people, so that they do not break through to the L
ORD to gaze, and many of them perish.
22Also let the priests who come near to the L
ORD consecrate themselves, or else the L
ORD will break out against them.
23Moses said to the L
ORD, The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for You warned us, saying, Set bounds about the mountain and consecrate it.
24Then the L
ORD said to him, Go down and come up
again, you and Aaron with you; but do not let the priests and the people break through to come up to the L
ORD, or He will break forth upon them.
25So Moses went down to the people and told them.